Method and apparatus for handling tunnel lining forms



Nov. 25,1941. L. J. SAROSDY 2,264,054

METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR HANDLING TUNNEL LINING FORMS Filed Sept. 4, 19404 Sheets-Sheet 1 INYENTOR 01/15 J. Sarosdy Nov. 25, 1941. L'. J. sARosDY2,264,054

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TUNNEL LININCT FORMS Filed Sept. 4,1940] 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Lou/s JJarosdy Nov. 25, 1941.

L. J. SAROSDY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TUNNEL LINING FORMSFiled Sept. 4, 1940. 4 Sheets-Sheet :s

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\ INVENTOR 00/15 J Sara Nov. 25, 19.41. L. J. SAROSDY METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR HANDLING TUNNEL LINING FORMS Filed Sept. 4, '1940 M H my.m 4 A Patented Nov. 25, 1941 METHOD AND- APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TUNNELLINING FORMS Louis J. Sarosdy, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to- Blaw-KnoxCompany, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of 'New Jersey Application-September 4, 1940, SerialNo. 355,329 a Claims. (Cl. -13L6) Thisinvention relates to the manipulation of tunnel lining forms which aremade in sections and advanced successively as a tunnel bore isexcavated, to form a concrete lining therefor and, in particular, to thehandling of lining forms comprising arch and invert sections which areassembled together for the pouring of a predetermined length of thelining and then stripped therefrom and advanced when such length hasbeen sufiiciently cured.

In the handling of the archand invertsections of tunnel linings of thetype described, it has heretofore been customary to employ'a cantilevermechanism traveling on one section of lining for stripping the nextsection of lining therebehind' and moving it therethrough to a positionin advance thereof. This type of handling mechanism made it necessarythat the form sections be relatively short and made the operation ofshifting the forms for a given length of the tun-- nel lining tediousand time-consuming.

I have invented a novel method and apparatus for handling the arch andinvert sections of tunnel lining forms which overcome the aforementionedobjections and make it possible to place form sections as long as-thirtyfeet. The use of form units of such length obviously reduces the timerequired to place the forms for a given length of the tunnel lining. Ina preferred embodiment and practice of the invention, I anchor the archsection to the lining poured therearound and suspend the invert sectionthere from on a support traveling along atrack on the arch section. Ialso provide an extension track in the tunnel bore ahead of the last assembled arch and invert sections previously placed in position. Theextension track is carried ontemporary supports. I also employ a cartraveling on tracks in the invert sections for collapsing the archsection to be moved and transporting it through the assembled arch andinvert sections remaining in place. A carriage traveling on the liningitself is adapted tosupport the car below an arch section to bestrippedand moved, after the invert section previously cooperating withthe arch section has been stripped and moved forward.

The following detailed description and explanation of my novel methodand apparatus refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating theseveral stages of the procedure and the preferred form of the apparatusfor performing the method.

In the drawings, 7

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view through a tunnel wherein aliningis being constructed by the aid of the invention, showing aninvert section suspended from its cooperating arch section and readyfortransport through an adjacent assembled archand invert section to a;point ahead of the latter; p

- Fig; 2 is a similar view showing the invert section after it has beentransported and placed, and the arch section stripped and ready formovement to its new position;

Fig. 3- is a similar view showing the arch section after transport toits new position andthe extension track and temporary supports afterthey have been likewise moved forwardly in the bore; r

Fig.- 4 is a similar view showing the assembied arch and invertsectionahead of the last section of the lining previously poured; andready for thepouring of another section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View to enlarged scale taken substantiallyalongthe plane of line V'V of Fig. 1'; r

Fig. 6 is a transversesectional view taken sub= stantially along theplane of' line VI- VI of Fig. 2; y

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theplane ofline VII-VII of Fig. 1; and

'Fig. 8' is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theplane of line VIII-VIII of Fig. 3'. w

'Referri-ngnow' in detailto the drawings; a tunnel bore Iii is-excavatedbyknownmeans and is provided with a'li'ning H of concrete pouredinsections around assembled arch and invert form sections mane l3;respectively. The different stages of the manipulation of the formsections and the pouring and curing of the lining' it are illustrated inFigs; 1 through 4". In Fig.1; the section designated A has beencompleted and the forms-stripped therefrom. Section B has beencompletely cured but the forms have not been removed therefrom. Insection C; the lining has been poured around the forms and isin processof'curing. Insecticn D', the

' tunnel bore has been excavated and is ready an understanding of themethod and apparatus whereby this is accomplished, it isnecessary toconsider the details of the form sections and the handlingapparatustherefor.

As best shown in Fig. 8, the arch form sections I2 are composed of upperhalf-portions I4 and I5 hinged together as at I6 having aprons I lhinged to the lower edges thereof at I8. The several portions of thearch section, as well as the invert section I3 are composed of arcuateribs I9 which may be structural shapes of any suitable type, andsheathing plates which are preferably welded thereto. The arch sectionshave nuts 2| welded thereto to receive threaded anchoring pins 22. Theouter ends of the pins project through holes in the sheathing plates andinto the concrete of the lining when it is poured around the form, g

The upper half-portions I4 and I5 of the arch section I2 of the form areprovided with tracks 23 along which chain hoists 24 are adapted totravel. As shown in Fig. 5, the chain hoists are employed to strip theinvert form section |3 from the lining II after the latter has beencured. Slings 25 may conveniently be secured about tracks 26 mounted onthe invert section and the latter raised to the position shown in chainlines after the aprons I! have been swung up to their chain-lineposition. The pins 22 serveto anchor the arch section to the liningwhile the invert section is thus being stripped. After the invertsection has been raised, the hoists 24 are moved along the tracks 23 toadvance the stripped invert section through the adjacent assembled archand invert sections to a position ahead of the latter.

A trolley beam 21 constitutes an extension of the tracks 23. As shown inFig. 6, it comprises a pair of channels secured together by platesattached to their upper flanges. The beam 21 is supported in alinementwith the tracks 23 by tripods 28. The legs of the tripods mayconveniently be composed of pipe and preferably have jack screws 29 inthe lower ends thereof. The upper ends of two of the tripod legs arerigidly secured at 30 to a cross piece 3| composed of a pair ofchannels. The third leg is pivoted to the cross piece at 32. A yoke 33is suspended by a link 34 from each tripod and is provided with rollers35 on which the beam 21 is supported for longitudinal movement.

It will be understood that, before the stripped invert section isadvanced ahead of the form sections in section C of the lining, sectionD of the bore is excavated and the tripods 28 so positioned therein thatthe beam 21 is in alinement with the tracks 23. It is possible, by thisprocedure, to run the hoists 24 onto the trolley beam 21, as shown inFig. 2, in order to place the stripped invert section in section D ofthe lining. The suspended invert section is lowered by operating thehoists 24 and is supported on temporary jacks 36. As shown in Fig. 6,the legs of the tripods 28 are spaced far enough to provide clearancefor the invert section being placed.

After the invert section has been placed as described, the bore of thetunnel is extended by excavating section E (Figs. 3 and 4). As theexcavation proceeds, the beam 2'! is advanced on the rollers 35 and therearmost tripod taken down and again set up in the lead position. Inthis manner, the beam 21 maybe advanced the full length of a formsection while being supported by at least two tripods at all times.After the trolley beamhas been advanced the length of a form section,section D is clear for the placement of the arch form'sectioncooperatingwith the previously placed invert section.

' For stripping andtransporting the arch sections, I provide a car 31having wheels 38 adapted to travel on the tracks 26. The car has anupstanding central frame 39 provided with adjustable links 40 andsteamboat ratchets 4| adapted to be connected to the arch section asshown in Fig. 8.

A carriage 42 has wheels 43 adapted to travel on the interior of thelining as shown in Fig. 7. The carriage is provided with tracks 44adapted to aline with the tracks 26 on the invert sections. During thestripping of the invert section described above, the car 31 is supportedon the carriage 42 as shown in Fig. 1. When the invert section has beenstripped and transported to its new position, the carriage 42 is movedfrom section A into section B of the lining as shown in Fig. 2. Theratchets 4| are then extended so that they and the links 40 may beattached to the upper half-portions I4 and I5 oi the arch section I2 asshown in Fig. 8. The anchoring pins 22 are turned to loosen their outerends from the concrete of the lining in which they are embedded. Theratchets 4| are then contracted to collapse and lower the arch section,the aprons I! having been folded up, as indicated in chain lines in Fig.8. In addition to contracting the ratchets 4|, the links 40 may beshortened slightly if necessary although ordinarily it will not be.

When the arch section has been collapsed and lowered, the car 31 isadvanced along the tracks 44 of the carriage 42, then along the tracks26 of the invert section remaining assembled with its arch section, andthen over the tracks 26 of the invert section supported on the jacks 36in section D of the lining. In'other words, the car 31 is removed fromthe position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig, 3.

With'the car 31 in section D of the lining as shown in Fig. 3, theratchets 4| are extended to raise and expand the arch section and theaprons I! are folded down and. the arch and invert sections securedtogether preparatory to pouring the lining in section D. The car 31 isthen run back on to the carriage 42 in section B as shown in section 4.

By the procedure described above, both the invert section I3 and thearch section I4 have been stripped from the lining section B,transported one. at a time through the form remaining in place withinlining section C, and reassembled in cooperativerelation in section D ofthe bore in readiness for the pouring of the lining thereof. At the sametime, the bore has been extended through section E and the trolley beammoved thereinto by taking down and re-erecting the tripods I 28 formingtemporary supports therefor.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and explanation thatthe invention is characterized by important advantages over the practicefollowed heretofore. By the method and apparatus of my invention, it isentirely practical to handle form sections as long as 30 feet and thestripping and transporting operations may be performed rapidly so thatthe progress of the tunnel lining is expedited and a minimum of formequipment is required. It will be understood that while the drawingsshow but one section of the lining between the forward end thereof andthe section from which the forms are being stripped, several formsections may remain in place to support the lining while curing.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred practice andembodiment of the invention, the latter may be otherwise embodiedandpracticed within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling sectionsof a. tunnel lining form each of whichincludes an arch section and an invert section, comprising a trackcarried on the arch sections, trolley hoists traveling on said track forstripping an invert section and conveying it through adjacent assembledarch and invert sections, and an. extension track mounted in the tunnelbore on. temporary supports ahead of said assembled arch and invertsections and in alinement with the track on the arch sections, wherebysaid stripped invert section may be transported to a position ahead ofthe assembled arch and zinvert sections and placed in abutment with thelast invert section previously placed, preparatory to pouring anadditional lining section.

2. Apparatus for handling sections of a tunnel lining form each of whichincludes an arch section and in invert section, comprising tracksmounted on said invert sections, a car adapted to travel on said tracks,a wheeled carriage adapted to travel on the tunnel lining and havingtracks in alinement with those in said invert sections, and means onsaid car for stripping and collapsing an arch section and. supporting.it during transport through assembled arch and invert sections to aposition ahead of the last assembled arch and invert sections previouslyplaced, for assembly with an invert section.

3. Apparatus for handling sections of a tunnel lining form, each ofwhich includes a collapsible arch section with hinged aprons and aninvert section adapted to be assembled therewith, said apparatuscomprising a track on the arch sections, a hoist traveling on said trackfor stripping and transporting an invert section after raising theaprons of the cooperating arch section, an extension track mounted ontemporary supports in the tunnel bore ahead of the last assembled archand invert sections previously placed, a car traveling on the invertsections having means for stripping and transporting an arch sectionthrough assembled arch and invert sections, and traveling on the liningmeans for supporting said car beneath an arch section after removal ofthe invert section previously disposed therebelow.

4. Apparatus for handling sections of a tunnel lining form each of whichincludes an arch section and an invert section comprising a car adaptedto travel on said invert sections, means on said car for stripping andcollapsing an arch section for transport through adjacent assembled archand invert sections, and means traveling along the tunnel porting thecar below the arch section being collapsed after removal of the invertsection previously disposed below said last-mentioned arch section.

5. Apparatus for handling sections of a tunnel lining form each of whichincludes an arch section and an invert section comprising a trackcarried on the arch sections, trolley hoists traveling on said track forstripping an invert section and conveying it through adjacent assembledarch and invert sections, and means mounted on temporary supports in thetunnel bore ahead of the last assembled arch and invert sectionspreviously placed, for movably supporting said hoists to permit aninvert section to be stripped and moved through and ahead of lining formovably supthe last: assembled arch and: invertsezctions previously.placed.

6. Apparatus for handling sections of a-tunnel liningform each of whichincludes, an arch sectionand arr invert section comprising. a trackcarried on the arch. sections, trolley hoists traveling on said trackfor stripping an invert section and conveying it through adjacentassembled, arch. and invert, sections, a trolley beam in the. tunnelbore, ahead of the last assembled arch and invert sections previouslyplaced, said beam constituting an extension of said track, and temporarysupports for holding said beam in alinement with saidtrack.

'lApparatus for handling sections of atunnel lining form, each of whichincludes an arch section and arrinvert section comprising a trackcarried on the arch sections, trolley hoists traveling. on said trackfor stripping an invert section and conveying itv through adjacentassembled arch and invert sections, a. trolley beam in the tunnel boreahead of the last. assembled arch and invert sections previously placed,said beam constituting an extension of saidtrack, and temporary supportsin said bore having means mounting said beam in alinement with saidtrack for. longitudinal movement.

8. Apparatus for handling sections of a tunnel lining form each of whichincludes an arch sec? tion and an invert section comprising a trackcarried on the arch sections, trolley hoists traveling on said track forstripping an invert section and conveying it through adjacent assembledach, and invert sections, a. trolley beam in the tunnel bo-reahead ofthe last assembled arch and invert-sections previously placed, said beamconstituting an extension of said track, and temporary supports in saidbore having rollers on which said beam is movable longitudinally.

9. In a method of stripping the invert section of a tunnel lining formincluding also an arch section anchored to the lining and normallycoacting with the invert section, and transporting the invert sectionthrough adjacent assembled arch and invert sections previously placed,the steps including, suspending the invert section from the archsection, moving the suspended invert section through the adj acentassembled arch and invert sections onto a temporary support and loweringthe suspended invert section into position ahead of said assembled arch'and invert sections.

10. In a method of stripping the arch section of a tunnel liningincluding an invert section normally coacting with said arch section,and transporting the arch section through adjacent assembled arch andinvert sections, the steps including collapsing the arch section onto acar after removing the cooperating invert section, supporting the carinitially on the lining but spaced upwardly thereabove, and moving thecar through the adjacent assembled arch and invert sections whilesupporting the car on the invert sections previously placed.

11. In a method of stripping the invert and arch sections of a tunnellining the arch section being initially anchored to the lining, andtransporting them through adjacent assembled arch and invert sectionspreviously placed, the steps including suspending the invert sectionfrom the arch section, moving the suspended invert section through theadjacent assembled arch and invert sections, then collapsing the archsection onto a car, supporting the car initially on the lining butspaced upwardly thereabove, and moving the car through the adjacentassembled arch and invert sections while supportingthe car on theadjacent assembled invert section, then moving the car onto the invertsection last placed and expanding the arch section to normal positionfor coaction with said last-mentioned invert section. l

12. In an apparatus providing a form for the entire circumference ofconcrete tunnel lining and including a rigid invert section having railslongitudinally disposed thereon and a collapsible arch section adaptedto be supported in expanded position upon said invert section, means forstripping and placing the sections in advance position comprising meansfor temporarily securing an arch section to the portion of the liningalready cast, a trolley track in the crown of said arch section, awheeled hoist trolley adapted to travel on said track and to strip,support and convey the invert form, an auxiliary trolley track havingportable supports resting directly on the floor of the unlined tunneland constituting a continuation of the track in the: arch formspreviously placed whereby the stripped invert form may be conveyed bysaid trolley hoist beyond said already-placed forms, means on saidportable supports mounting said auxiliary trolley track for movementlongitudinally through said portable supports, a truck adapted to travelon the floor of the lining portion already cast and having rails thereonin alignment with the rails on said invert section and adapted to abuttherewith, and a car having wheels adapted to travel along said rails onsaid truck and invert forms, said car being provided with means forexpanding, collapsing and supporting said arch sections.

13. Apparatus as defined byc1aim12"characterized by said trackcomprising a pair of channels secured to the arch section and {mm vidingspaced flanges for engaging the wheels of said trolley.

14. Forms for the concrete lining of tunnels comprising an invertsection, a collapsible arch section including aprons hinged thereto anddisengageable from said invertsection while the arch section is inextended position, means for securing the arch section to the lining, atrack supported in the crown of said arch section, and a trolley hoistengaging said track and adapted to strip and convey said invert sectionwhereby the invert section may be removed for placement in advanceposition in the tunnel prior to the stripping of said arch section.

15. Forms for the casting of a concrete tunnel lining, said formsincluding a plurality of invert sections, a like number of collapsiblearch sections adapted to cooperate, respectively, with said invertsections, each of said arch sections including aprons hinged thereto anddisengageable from the cooperating invert section while the arch sectionis in extended position, means for securing the arch sections to thelining, track lengths supported in the crown of said ach sections and atrolley hoist traveling on said track and adapted to strip said invertsections successively and convey them through the cooperating archsection and the remaining assembled arch and invert sections, wherebyeach invert section may be removed and replaced in advance position,prior to stripping the cooperating arch section.

LOUIS J. SAROSDY.

